Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
An evergreen shrub or small tree with dense, branching stems, smooth gray bark, and small, glossy, alternate dark green elliptical leaves with finely crenate-serrate margins.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.
- Water
- Moderate water needs; drought tolerant once established. Water deeply when the top two inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
- Growth
- Evergreen woody shrub or small tree growing in a dense, multi-stemmed form, reaching mature heights of 10 to 20 feet and a spread of 10 to 15 feet with a moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun to partial shade, water regularly until established to maintain moist soil, use well-draining loamy or sandy soil, and apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.
Watering
Moderate water needs; drought tolerant once established. Water deeply when the top two inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
Soil
Adaptable to a wide range of well-draining soil types including sand, loam, or clay, with a preferred acidic to slightly alkaline pH range between 5.5 and 7.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 9, demonstrating strong heat and coastal salt tolerance.
Growth habit
Evergreen woody shrub or small tree growing in a dense, multi-stemmed form, reaching mature heights of 10 to 20 feet and a spread of 10 to 15 feet with a moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Flowers in spring with small, inconspicuous white-to-greenish flowers arranged in clusters along the leaf axils.
Propagation
Propagated successfully via semi-hardwood stem cuttings taken in summer with rooting hormone, or from stratified seeds sown in autumn.
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient, but can occasionally be affected by leaf miners, scale insects, spider mites, and root rot if planted in poorly draining soils.
Similar species
American Holly (Ilex opaca), which features significantly larger, spiny-margined leaves and larger red fruits compared to the smaller, rounded, finely-toothed leaves of the Yaupon Holly.